Annie's Lent Page

Actually "LENT" the holiday by name is not mentioned in the Bible. But there are 5 Bible verses with LENT in them. Of course there is one Bible verse in the King James Version that does mention "Easter". Acts 12:4 "And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people."

There actually are still many different opinions about the use of the word "Easter" in the KJV translation. You can read more about it at the links below:

The New Testament Greek Lexicon says pascha - Easter
Nave's Topical Bible - Easter (a.v.)
Easton's Bible Dictionary - Easter
King James Dictionary - Easter
Smith's Bible Dictionary - Easter

~The information that you will find below is quoted from The World Book Encyclopedia~

Lent
"Lent is a religious season observed in the spring by most Christians. It serves as a time of spiritual discipline and renewal in preparation for Easter. Many churches hold special worship services during the season. Besides attending these services, Christians observe Lent with fasting, prayer, and self-sacrifice. Some Christians do charity work.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday in many churches. In the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, Lent begins on a Monday, which is sometimes called Pure Monday or Clean Monday. The Lenten season lasts about 40 days, excluding Sundays in Western churches, and excluding Saturdays and Sundays in Eastern churches. The number 40 recalls Jesus' 40-day fast in the wilderness, as described in the Gospels. Most churches reserve special observance of Jesus' Passion (suffering and death) for the last week of Lent, called Holy Week.

The word Lent comes from words meaning spring and long and probably refers to the lengthening of days as spring approaches. Lent probably grew out of the early Christian church's practice of baptizing people at the Easter vigil (watch), a service held on the eve of Easter. During the vigil, the church also accepted repentant Christians back into the faith. In the weeks before Easter, candidates for baptism fasted and received religious instruction. By the A.D. 900's, Lent had become a time of penance and preparation for Easter for all Christians. The observance of Lent was set at 40 days in the A.D. 600's.

Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter and marks the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian calendar. Palm Sunday worship recalls when people spread palms and clothing in front of Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. This happened several days before He was crucified. Palm Sunday marks a turn in Christian churches' observance of Lent from a time of discipline and sorrow for one's sins to one of looking ahead to the Passion (suffering and death) of Jesus and His Resurrection.

By the late 300's, Christians in Jerusalem were celebrating Palm Sunday on the first day of Holy Week. It was part of a trend there to remember the last events of Jesus' life by holding services at sacred sites in the city. Today, Christians in many traditions observe Palm Sunday with the blessing and distribution of palms. Usually, the ceremony includes a procession.

The beginning of Lent
The beginning of Lent. In Western churches, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Many churches, especially Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran, hold special services on this day. This service often includes the blessing of ashes on the foreheads of worshipers, and words based on Genesis 3: 19, "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." The ceremony reminds participants that they should begin their Lenten penance in a humble spirit.

In the Eastern Orthodox Churches, members attend an evening service on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. This Sunday is sometimes called Forgiveness Sunday because at the end of the service worshipers ask the priest and one another for forgiveness for their sins. Lent officially begins in the Eastern Orthodox Churches on the next day, called Pure Monday.
~All the above information is from The World Book Encyclopedia~

What is Holy Week?
Holy Week is the final week of Lent. Some churches hold special services every day of the week. Holy Week recalls the events leading to Jesus' death and Resurrection. For more information about these events.

Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week. It celebrates the story of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where people spread palm branches and clothing before Him. During Palm Sunday services, many churches distribute cut palm leaves, sometimes woven into the shape of a cross. Greek Orthodox Christians receive branches of fragrant bay leaves. The leaves are then used in cooking during the year.

Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, recalls Jesus' last meal and His arrest and imprisonment. Many Protestant churches hold Communion services on this day. During Maundy Thursday Mass, Roman Catholic priests often wash the feet of 12 church members or poor people in remembrance of how Jesus washed the feet of His 12 disciples at the time of the final meal. A priest takes the Host (the wafer of bread regarded as Jesus' body) from the main altar to a shrine on the side. The shrine symbolizes the place where Jesus was held prisoner after His arrest. All decorations are removed from the main altar as a symbol of the stripping of Jesus' garments before the Crucifixion.

Good Friday observes the death of Jesus on the cross. Most churches hold mourning services. Some services last from noon until 3 p.m. to symbolize the last three hours of darkness while Jesus suffered on the cross. The Eastern Orthodox Churches follow services with ceremonies recalling how Jesus was taken from the cross and placed inside a tomb. In many Spanish-speaking countries, Christians hold processions in which people carry statues of the dying Jesus and His mother, Mary. Many Christians eat little or no food on Good Friday.

Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday is chiefly a day of solemn vigil (watch). The major activity of the day comes at nightfall as observance of the Resurrection approaches. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches hold vigil services that often include the baptism of new members. The vigil service leads up to a dramatic moment. The lights in each church are put out, leaving everyone in darkness. Then, the priest lights one tall candle, representing the risen Jesus. The flame from this candle is used to light other candles held by worshipers, which symbolizes the spreading of Jesus' light throughout the world. In Eastern Orthodox Churches, the ceremony is timed so that the priest lights his candle exactly at midnight. After all the candles have been lit, the service becomes an Easter celebration, with joyous music and the reading of the Easter story from the Bible. Traditionally, newly converted Christians were baptized on this day, after having received religious instruction during Lent.

Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches hold Saturday evening services, but most Protestant churches wait until Sunday morning to hold their main Easter services. Many churches and communities, particularly in the United States, have additional outdoor Easter services at sunrise. At that time, the light of the rising sun recalls the light that comes back to the world with the newly risen Jesus. Catholic and Orthodox churches also hold additional services on Easter Sunday, especially for those who missed the long services of the preceding night. For many Christians, Easter Sunday is set aside for feasting and celebration."
~All the above information is from The World Book Encyclopedia~

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Lent begins February 6th, 2008 and continues on until Easter!

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